System of Detection and Transmission of Ultrasonic Machining

ABSTRACT

A system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining incorporating a motor, an ultrasonic horn and a cutting tool mainly includes a detector, a vibrator and a transmitter. The vibrator is made of piezoelectric material and is used to create ultrasonic vibrations, and the detector made of piezoelectric material is used to physically detect the vibrations. The transmitter includes a fixed ring connected with the ultrasonic horn to remain fixed and a rotary ring connected with the cutting tool to conduct rotary manufacturing. A plurality of balls are located between the fixed ring and the rotary ring. By means of the above design, the transmitter is able to effectively transmit the displacement to the cutting tool vertically, and the accuracy of machining is ensured via the detector establishing a control system of feedback.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system of ultrasonic machining, especially a system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining.

2. Description of the Related Art

A general ultrasonic machining apparatus makes use of a piezoelectric material to create high-frequency vibration. The piezoelectric effect occurs only during the transmission of electricity, so the design of electricity transmission is an important factor. Basically, most methods of electricity conduction use a brush or a wire to transmit the electricity to the piezoelectric material. For example, the ultrasonic machining apparatus in CN 102989653A conducts electricity via a brush and a conducting ring, but it must be noted that the design entails the problem of the abrasion between the brush and the conducting part. For another example, the ultrasonic machining apparatus in US 20110155407A1 includes a structure of many sets of gears and wire, which can cause safety problem in that the wire can twist with the inner elements of the apparatus in a rotary machining process.

In addition, in order to increase the accuracy of the machining, the ultrasonic machining apparatus generally establishes a feedback system of electrical signals to provide high accuracy. The method using induction coils, for example, is used to detect the current or voltage transmitted to the piezoelectric material, and the current or voltage is used as a feedback signal to adjust the predetermined current. But the above-mentioned method is prone to interference by signal noise in the environment, such as a mains supply, the current of the motor and the current driving the vibrators. Other influential factors include the weight of loading and the difference between resonant modes in practice. Therefore, the detected current cannot be analyzed in the manner of simple linearity.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a structure of an ultrasonic machining apparatus allowing simultaneous rotation and vibration and a system of machining feedback is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining.

To achieve the above-mentioned objects, a system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining can be assembled with a motor, an ultrasonic horn and a cutting tool, wherein the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining comprises: at least one sensor; at least one vibrator; a connector used to connect the at least one sensor, the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn; and a transmission apparatus connected to the ultrasonic horn and the cutting tool, wherein the transmission apparatus further comprises a fixed ring, a plurality of rotary bearing objects and a rotary ring, wherein the plurality of rotary bearing objects are set between the rotary ring and the fixed ring, whereby the vibration of the at least one vibrator can be transmitted to the cutting tool via the transmission apparatus and can be detected by the at least one sensor.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the inner diameter of the fixed ring is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the rotary ring.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of rotary bearing objects are steel balls.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the at least one sensor and the at least one vibrator are made of piezoelectric material.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn is less than the distance between the at least one sensor and the ultrasonic horn.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 presents a cross-sectional drawing of the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining of the present invention.

FIG. 2 presents an exploded perspective view of the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining of the present invention.

FIG. 3 presents a cross-sectional drawing of the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining of the present invention.

FIG. 4 presents a cross-sectional drawing of the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To clarify the above and other purposes, features, and advantages of this invention, a preferred embodiment of this invention is especially listed and described in detail with the attached figures as follows.

Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of the present invention. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining 1 of the present invention includes the common mechanisms such as a vibrator 20, an ultrasonic horn 30, a cutting tool 60 and a motor 70, and further includes a sensor 10, a connector 40 and a transmission apparatus 50.

According to the embodiment, the vibrator 20 and the sensor 10 are both made of piezoelectric material such that the application of an electrical field creates mechanical deformation, and the application of stress also creates an electrical field. The present invention performs ultrasonic vibration machining via the converse piezoelectric effect with plural vibrators 20. The sensor 10 of the present invention detects the vibration of the vibrators 20 to create the micro-current via the piezoelectric effect and is electrically connected to a voltage detection controller (not shown) to detect if the current output frequency and amplitude of the vibrators 20 meet expectations.

The feedback signal is not prone to being influenced by environment factors because it is detected mechanically, the result of which is greater accuracy through analysis of the signal. The method of receiving the electrical feedback with the voltage detection controller is a well-known skill, so detailed description is omitted. It should be noted that the locations of the vibrators 20 and the sensor 10 are changeable and can be adjusted to meet specific needs. The vibrators 20, for example, can be installed under or above the sensor 10 when the system is installed in a machining apparatus.

According to the embodiment, the connector 40 is a sleeve with a screw thread. In addition, a mechanism with a corresponding screw thread includes an ultrasonic horn 30, a locking ring 81, an insulation ring 82 and a screw nut 83. The vibrator 20 and the sensor 10 are hollow piezoelectric rings (without a screw thread in a preferred embodiment). The connector 40 connects and fastens the ultrasonic horn 30, the vibrators 20, the locking ring 81, the vibrators 20 (again), the insulation ring 82, the sensor 10 and the screw nut 83 in that order.

According to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, it provides other embodiment. The sensor 10 shall be set at the amplitude peak. The connector 40 connects and fastens the ultrasonic horn 30, the vibrators 20, the locking ring 81, the vibrators 20 (again), the sensor 10, the insulation ring 82 and the screw nut 83 in that order. The sensor 10 can be set beside the vibrators 20. The sensor 10 also can be set between the ultrasonic horn 30 and the vibrators 20. The sensor 10 position is not limited. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining 1 delivers energy through the standing wave.

The ultrasonic horn 30 is used in ultrasonic machining to increase the amplitude so as to meet the need of vibration in the machining process. The locking ring 81. Which is in the shape of a round flange, is connected to the case of the system so as to prevent the ultrasonic machining apparatus from being splashed by the machining cooling liquid. The insulation ring 82 is used to insulate the vibrators 20 and the sensor 10, which involve the transmission of electricity. The screw nut 83 is used to fasten the detection system with the connector 40. The above-mentioned connection can be achieved in many ways. For example, the elements can be fastened together by slotting and tabbing. However, the manner of connection is not the primary issue of the present invention, so there is no need for further description.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transmission apparatus 50 includes a fixed ring 51, rotary bearing objects 52 and a rotary ring 53, wherein the fixed ring 51 is used to connect to the ultrasonic horn 30. The connection method could be screw fastening (not shown), or other appropriate methods.

The rotary bearing objects 52 are set between the rotary ring 53 and the fixed ring 51. The rotary ring 53 is used to connect the cutting tool 60. The connection method could be screw fastening not shown) or other appropriate methods. The fixed ring 51 and the rotary ring 53 are substantially two rings with the same inner/outer diameter and size so as to enclose the rotary bearing objects 52.

The cutting tool 60 is connected to the rotary ring 53 of the transmission apparatus 50, and the end of the tool is also fastened to the motor 70 of the machining apparatus 50. In this way, the tool can be driven to rotate by the motor 70 so as to perform machining. Meanwhile, the transmission apparatus 50 can effectively transmit the displacement which is generated vertically by the vibrators 20 to the cutting tool of the ultrasonic machining apparatus. The detection system is not driven to rotate, so the problems of transmission wires being twisted during rotation and the abrasion caused by the contact between a piezoelectric ring and a brush are eliminated. The method of fastening the motor and the cutting tool is well-known, so detailed description is omitted.

According to the embodiment, the rotary bearing objects 52 used to bear the fixed ring Si and the rotary ring 53 are a plurality of steel balls. When the rotary ring 53 follows the rotation of the cutting tool 60, the steel balls are also driven to roll fast. However, the rotary bearing objects 52 are not limited to steel balls. The objects can also be roller pins. It should be noted that, although the transmission apparatus 50 is actually a common ball bearing, the idea of making use of a ball bearing to transmit the rotation of an ultrasonic machining apparatus and the vibration of a vibration device is novel in the design of a general ultrasonic machining apparatus.

It should be noted that, although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described exemplary embodiment. Instead, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to this exemplary embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining which can be assembled with a motor, an ultrasonic horn and a cutting tool, wherein the system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining comprises: at least one sensor; at least one vibrator; a connector used to connect the at least one sensor, the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn; and a transmission apparatus connected to the ultrasonic horn and the cutting tool, wherein the transmission apparatus further comprises a fixed ring, a plurality of rotary bearing objects and a rotary ring, wherein the plural rotary bearing objects are set between the rotary ring and the fixed ring; whereby the vibration of the at least one vibrator can be transmitted to the cutting tool via the transmission apparatus and can be detected by the at least one sensor.
 2. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the fixed ring is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the rotary ring.
 3. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of rotary bearing objects are steel balls.
 4. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of rotary bearing objects are steel balls.
 5. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one vibrator are made of piezoelectric material.
 6. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one vibrator are made of piezoelectric material.
 7. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one vibrator are made of piezoelectric material.
 8. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor and the at least one vibrator are made of piezoelectric material.
 9. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distance between the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn is less than the distance between the at least one sensor and the ultrasonic horn.
 10. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 6, wherein the distance between the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn is less than the distance between the at least one sensor and the ultrasonic horn.
 11. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 7, wherein the distance between the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn is less than the distance between the at least one sensor and the ultrasonic horn.
 12. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 8, wherein the distance between the at least one vibrator and the ultrasonic horn is less than the distance between the at least one sensor and the ultrasonic horn.
 13. The system of detection and transmission of ultrasonic machining as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is set at the amplitude peak generated by the vibrator. 